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morning sun

January12, 2005

Healing Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon"s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and
she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Jesus said that he must go to other villages and preach "For this purpose have I come." He went throughout Galilee preaching and driving out demons. To me this means curing psychological and spiritual illnesses.

When Simon's mother in law was healed by Jesus, he had reached out his hand and helped her up. The interpretation of this event for me is that the touch of Jesus contains an instant healing. The fever went out of her when Jesus touched her to help her up. As a model of gratefulness, she immediately goes about the task of serving him.

The time that Jesus chose to go off and pray alone was before early dawn. This is a time when the world seems asleep and silent. It has been a traditional time of prayer. For my self, this has been one of the most open times to God that I have as far as the time of the day. It also is for myself a way of starting the works of the day by beginning all works with prayer. The silence of the early dawn is a time that allows more listening to God away from the chatter of others and the busy world. Finally there is daily a special joy of the beauty of the birth of a new day when the sun rises.